Common Chicken Breeds That Lay Colored Eggs

Chicken owners would love nothing more than to open their nest boxes and see a gorgeous array of eggs representing every color of the rainbow. Although you won't be able to find any purple eggs anytime soon, there are easy ways to ensure that you'll have chocolate, pink, blue, and green colored eggs - yes, other colors besides the standard tan and white!

It has nothing to do with what you feed your chickens. Genetics is the only factor that determines the color of the eggs your chickens lay. Listed below are a few ways to determine what colors will be represented in your nesting boxes and a few popular colorful egg-laying breeds.

Is it Possible to Predict Egg Color?​

Yes, there is! All you have to do is look at the breed of chicken. The eggs of chickens of the same breed generally have the same color. You can also look at the color of your chickens' earlobes - this isn't always foolproof, since some chickens do not follow this standard. In general, a chicken with white earlobes will lay white eggs, while one with red earlobes will lay brown eggs.

Hybrid chickens and those from mixed parent stocks, as well as Silkies, are exceptions to this rule. Silkies lay white eggs despite having blue earlobes.

Likewise, egg color genetics aren't inherited from a single parent. It's not just up to the rooster or the hen. Usually, the color of shells is determined by both parents' genes. For the most part, egg colors in a breed will be the same. Exceptions to this are hybrid breeds or breeds like Easter Eggers, in which each individual hen can lay a different color egg.

One thing you should keep in mind is that each chicken can lay only one color of egg. Genetics determine it, so it cannot be changed by age, diet, or any other factor. Nevertheless, stressed hens tend to lay eggs that appear odd or might even be a bit lighter in color.

Chickens that lay colored eggs​

These are some of the most commonly found chicken breeds that lay colored eggs:

1. Araucanas​

The Araucana chicken is named after the Araucana region of Chile, where these chickens are supposed to have originated. In addition to their eggs, these chickens are prized for other reasons. They are also quite attractive to look at, with tufts of feathers called peduncles which cover their ears. They also don't have typical tails.

The Araucana is often confused with the Ameraucana and Easter Egger. Although these chickens look similar, it is important that you select only Araucanas, or you may be dissatisfied with the results.

Approximately 200 blue eggs are laid by these birds each year.

Araucana chicks are a unique breed that can be difficult to hatch on your own farm. Due to lethal genes in Araucana chickens, a large proportion of chicks die before hatching. It may be better to order Araucana chicks from a hatchery if you want them.

2. Ameraucanas​

Despite sounding similar to Araucana, be careful not to confuse the two! The Ameraucana is a descendent of the Araucana, bred as a combination of the Araucana and another breed in order to eliminate the lethal gene that kills unhatched chicks. The Ameraucana lays blue eggs, has tufts of feathers, close muffs, and even has a beard, just like the Araucana.

The fluffy chicken has a pea comb and produces roughly 200 eggs per year, mostly blue or even green.

3. Cream Legbar​

The Cream Legbar is a modern chicken breed developed in the late 1900s as a cross between Leghorns, Cambars, Barred Plymouth Rocks, and Araucanas. These chickens have cream feathers and lay blue or blue-green eggs. Their genetics do not contain the lethal Araucana chick gene.

With this delightful breed, you can expect up to 200 colorful eggs per year.

4. Easter Eggers​

You are probably familiar with the Easter Egger if you are looking for colorful chicken eggs. One of the most popular breeds for people seeking colorful chicken eggs is this breed. With the ability to lay 250 eggs every year, this chicken breed can lay eggs of many different colors - although most of their eggs are blue, some lay eggs of other colors as well.

The eggs laid by a single chicken will all be the same color, but you could have a flock of Easter Eggers that all lay different colors. Because of this, you may want to consider one of the other breeds if you want a monochromatic egg basket.

Easter Eggers are hybrids, and their genetics are not always standardized. Green and pink eggs can also be laid by Easter Eggers. The results may vary!

5. Light Sussex​

This beautiful breed of chicken is often seen as the quintessential backyard chicken. These birds are fun to keep around and are also quite docile and alert. They are known to be excellent foragers as well.

A Light Sussex chicken can lay up to 250 gorgeous pink eggs a year.

6. Marans​

Chefs consider Maran eggs to be among the best in the world. This breed of chicken is traditionally used for both meat and eggs. They produce an ample number of eggs, but their eggs are also an exquisite chocolate brown color. However, Marans differ from other colorful egg producers in that the exact shade they produce will vary from bird to bird.

Eggs laid by a younger hen will be darker than those laid by an older hen.

7. Welsummers​

Welsummer chickens have the reputation of being one of the most intelligent and docile breeds. The eggs laid by these chickens are chocolate-brown and native to Holland. There's something so beautiful about the coloration of a Welsummer's egg because it's not only deep chocolate brown, but it can also have speckles. Hence, the eggs will have a lovely mottled appearance that you will truly enjoy.

As heritage breeds, they are also excellent foragers, laying up to 200 eggs a year.

8. Barnevelders​

This chicken originates from the Barneveld region of Holland and is a classic breed to consider. 200 years ago, it was developed by crossing imported Asian breeds with Brahmas and Cochins. The Barnevelder is a gorgeous bird with double-laced feathering varying in color from blue and green to black and white to buff-and-white.

This chicken was included in the American Standard of Perfection in 1991. It has auto-sexing varieties like Silver, Blue, Partridge, Dark Brown, Barred, and Chamois. Barnevelders are also prized for their beautiful eggs. They produce rich, dark brown eggs.

9. Penedesencas​

Penedesenca chickens were developed in Catalonia, a region of Spain, in the early 20th century. With its large comb and diminutive in size, the Penedesenca lays chocolate brown eggs.

Penedesencas have a reputation for being skittish, alert chickens. As pets, they might not be the best, but they are still entertaining to have around.

10. Dorking​

Dorking chickens are unique birds with funny names, but they lay beautiful cream-colored eggs. The roots of these chickens can be traced back to the Roman Empire, making them one of the oldest chicken breeds.

Their sweet, fun-loving nature makes them lovely to watch.

11. Olive Eggers​

Olive Egger is another hybrid egg producer. The breed can lay up to 200 eggs per year, though the amount will vary, due to the hybrid nature of the breed. Your Olive Eggers' eggs can vary in color from dark green to brownish-green due to the fact that they are a combination of blue and brown egg layers.

An Olive Egger is usually a cross between an Ameraucana and a Maran.

12. Barred Rock​

A Barred Rock chicken is a common backyard breed, used both as a meat bird and for laying eggs. Known for its light pink eggs, this chicken lays about 280 eggs each year.

13. Asil​

Also known as the Aseel, this ancient bird is difficult to raise and lays cream-colored eggs. Originally developed for cockfighting in Pakistan and India, it made its way to the Americas during the 1800s.

Because it is overly aggressive, the Asil is challenging to raise despite its beauty. Furthermore, although the eggs you receive will be a lovely pink or cream color, you won't get many of them - an Asil chicken produces only about 40 eggs each year.

14. Yokohama​

If you're looking for milky, cream-colored eggs, the Yokohama is a good choice. Although this chicken breed can be difficult to come by, its eggs are known for their cream hue and dramatic tail feathers. The breed was bred in Germany around the turn of the 19th century from Japanese birds.

15. Arkansas Blue​

Here's another unique breed that lays blue eggs. The Arkansas Blue is an experimental breed that was created at the University of Arkansas. It is a cross between the White Leghorn and Araucana and lays blue eggs. There are no Arkansas Blues available for purchase yet.

When they finally hit the market, however, make sure you keep a close eye on them.

16. Isbar​

The Isbar, pronounced "ice bar," is a chicken breed that emerged in Sweden in the mid-1900s. Martin Silverudd created this breed of chicken, which is autosexing - meaning you can tell roosters from hens as soon as they hatch out. There's no doubt that it's a rare breed that's almost impossible to find, but don't worry - it's worth the effort.

An Isbar can lay up to 200 green eggs per year.

17. Ice Cream Bars​

A cross between the Isbar and the Cream Legbar, the Ice Cream Bar is one of the newest breeds of chicken on this list that lays colorful eggs. Eggs range in color from light blue-green to a deep teal. Similarly to the Isbar and Cream Legbar, it is a bit hard to find.

18. Favaucana​

Another hybrid chicken breed developed from the parentage of Favorelle and Ameraucana is the Favaucana. Their friendly, personable demeanor and sage-green eggs have made them very popular.

How Do Chicken Eggshells Get Their Color?​

Those of you who raise laying hens would be aware that chickens aren't born able to lay eggs. A chicken must mature for some time before it can lay eggs. Did you know, however, that an egg takes up to 26 hours to form inside a chicken's body? So most chicken breeds only lay eggs a few times a week rather than every day.

An eggshell takes roughly 20 hours to form, while pigmentation takes another five hours. Originally, all eggs are white. Eggs change color as a result of the internal dyeing process.

Certain chicken breeds, however, have pigments that turn their eggs blue, brown, or green, among other colors. On most eggs, however, only the shell is colored. The oocyan gene is responsible for the blue coloring of chicken eggs and is a result of a retrovirus mutation.

Why Are My Eggs Purple?​

Sadly, there are no chicken breeds that lay purple eggs. When your eggs appear purple, it's the bloom. The bloom is a protective layer that helps keep bacteria from entering the eggshell. It also helps keep the eggs fresh.

You may notice that your brown egg layers' eggs have a purplish tinge after they have been laid. Usually, this can be washed off, but do not do so if you plan to incubate or hatch the eggs as it is essential for healthy development.

Is it possible for eggs to change color over time?​

Generally, eggs will retain their color over time. However, you might notice a decrease in pigmentation in the eggshell color. Although the shade of green or blue might be lighter than it used to be, they will still be green or blue.

Egg color changes are usually caused by poor diet, aging, or stress. She may have a lighter eggshell if she has been threatened by predators or even if it has been hot. Although there isn't always much you can do to prevent stress in chickens, you can certainly reduce it by providing nutritious feed and freshwater, as well as a safe shelter.

How Do Colored Chicken Eggs Taste?​

How do regular colored eggs (those that are white or tan) taste? Eggs that have unusual colors do not taste any different from those that have normal colors. The taste of an egg is determined by the health of the hen, especially by her diet, not by the color of the shell.

Therefore, a chocolate-brown egg will not taste like chocolate.

Enhancing egg quality​

Aside from smart breed selection, there is really no way to influence the production of colorful eggs. If you pay attention to the level of care you provide for your chickens, you can enhance the intensity of the expressed colors - as well as your overall egg production.

A chicken's nutritional needs will vary depending on its age, whether it is laying, molting, broody, or in another delicate stage of its life. Protein content of about 20% is needed for most layers, which eat an average of ¼ lb of feed per day. However, it depends on the time of year. When the weather gets colder, your chickens will need more food, while free-range birds might need less.

Additionally, you will need to provide additional calcium to your hens - as eggshells are primarily calcium carbonate, the hens need extra quantities of this nutrient to produce strong, vibrant shells.

Additionally, be sure your hens have access to plenty of clean, freshwater, and that they are not stressed. When a hen is stressed, she is likely to lay eggs that have weak shells or are malformed or discolored.

Colored chicken eggs: Are they worth it?​

You're not the only person who dreams of producing colorful egg baskets with your backyard flock. There is a lot of interest in exploring this phenomenon!

Nevertheless, you need to decide whether it's worth the effort. In fact, most of the best egg-laying chicken breeds do not lay colored eggs - they lay plain white eggs, such as the White Leghorn. Don't pick one of these breeds if you don't want to compromise quantity for aesthetics.

Furthermore, it's important to keep in mind that a white egg tastes just like a green egg. Colored eggs don't offer any added nutritional value. If, however, you like colorful eggs, then these chicken breeds definitely have what you're looking for!

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